Walmer Castle and Gardens

About the museum

Walmer Castle was built in 1539–40 by order of Henry VIII as one of three linked coastal forts with Deal and Sandown, intended to repel invasion from continental Europe. It was besieged by Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil Wars. By the middle of the 18th century it had grown from a fortress into a comfortable seaside retreat.

Since the 18th century the castle has been the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, an ancient office once responsible for the defence of Kent and Sussex. Holders have included William Pitt the Younger, the Duke of Wellington, who died here in 1852, W H Smith and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Each Lord Warden left furnishings, documents and objects, and many of them are still kept in the castle, together with items relating to Wellington such as his campaign bed and a pair of original Wellington boots.

The grounds were reshaped over the centuries into more than eight acres of gardens and woodland. They include the formal Broadwalk with its cloud hedges, the Queen Mother's Garden created to mark her 95th birthday, a working kitchen garden and the restored Glen Garden in a former chalk quarry. The castle is now looked after by English Heritage. In 2026 its interiors closed for a major conservation project, supported by a £3.08 million grant towards roof repairs, while the gardens remain open.

Highlights

• Eight acres of award-winning gardens
• The Broadwalk with its cloud hedges
• The Queen Mother's Garden and the restored Glen Garden
• Working kitchen garden with the Glasshouse Café
• Woodland play trail for children
• Wellington Museum and Lord Warden collections (castle interior currently closed)

Permanent exhibitions

• Gardens – More than eight acres of gardens including the Broadwalk, the Queen Mother's Garden, the kitchen garden, wildflower meadows, a woodland walk and the restored Glen Garden.
• Wellington Museum and Lord Warden collections – Personal effects of the Duke of Wellington, including his campaign bed and Wellington boots, and furnishings left by successive Lords Warden. The castle interior is currently closed.

Founded

1539

Operated by

English Heritage

Admission & discounts

Prices depend on the date. Advance online tickets bought until midnight the day before cost £13.85 (Super Saver), £15.38 (Saver) or £17.00 (Standard) for an adult; tickets bought on the day cost £16.30 to £20.00. English Heritage states that ticket prices are reduced by 30% while the castle interior is closed, with the discount applied automatically at checkout. Prices shown exclude the optional Gift Aid donation and the closure discount. English Heritage members enter free.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: not available
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Broadwalk, Queen Mother's Garden and Woodland Walk have smooth gravel paths that wheelchair users can use. The kitchen garden and meadow have some uneven ground and steps, and the Glen Garden can only be reached by steps, although there is a viewing area for wheelchair users. The castle and moat are reached by stairs only, over a cobbled walkway and a wooden drawbridge, and there is no lift. Wheelchairs and mobility scooters can be borrowed. Disabled passengers can be dropped at the castle entrance and limited disabled parking is near the entrance. There are tactile displays at various points in the gardens, and induction loops in the café and shop. The site has a Gold Accessibility Champion from Accessible UK who can help with planning. Free sensory backpacks can be borrowed at English Heritage sites in Kent.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

A natural play trail in the woodland has hollow tree trunks, climbing frames, a swing and a wobbly bridge; it is closed when the gardens close in severe weather. Children can spot sculptures of woodland birds along the woodland walk. Baby changing is next to the kitchen garden and bottle warming is available on request. Seasonal family events and trails run during school holidays.

Getting there & parking

Walmer Castle is on the coast south of Walmer, on the A258, and can be reached from junction 13 of the M20. Sat nav postcode CT14 7LJ. Bike racks are available. Deal Castle is 1.28 miles away along the seafront.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The Lord Warden's Tea Room is inside the castle walls and the Glasshouse Café is by the kitchen garden; vegetarian and vegan options are available and highchairs can be requested. There is a gift shop with a plant stall and a second-hand bookshop in the castle basement. Picnic benches stand on the Oval Lawn and elsewhere; barbecues are not allowed. Toilets are available.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit